Trainer Saeed bin Suroor is hopeful Elhaame can win his way into the Melbourne Cup field at Flemington on Saturday.
Elhaame is one of three Godolphin runners still in contention for the Melbourne Cup which bin Suroor brought to Australia for Tuesday’s race.
Sky Hunter is safely in the field with Secret Number No.25 in the order of entry while Elhaame is yet to pass the first balloting clause.
Victory in the Lexus Stakes on Saturday will get him passed the balloting condition and into the Melbourne Cup as an automatic entry.
The trainer said Elhaame was the best placed of his three stayers to back up from running on Saturday and into the Melbourne Cup and that is why he’s giving the stayer his chance to force his way into the field.
“I’m looking forward to tomorrow for Elhaame to run well,” he said.
“It looks to me an open race but if he can settle handy or close I think this is the best way for him to run well.”
Elhaame is a $7 chance to win his way into the Melbourne Cup in what is an open Lexus Stakes.
John O’Shea’s Godolphin galloper Havana Cooler and the James Cummings-trained Ruling Dynasty share favouritism at $5.50 ahead of Excess Knowledge at $6.
There are 10 horses in the Lexus Stakes all vying for their last opportunity of gaining a start in the Melbourne Cup.
Of the 13 Lexus runners only Junoob, Hawkspur and Manalapan are not in contention for a start in Tuesday’s race.
